Mykonos Travel Guide
Mykonos Travel Guide
Mykonos is one of the most infamous Greek islands, and is known for it’s epic parties, jaw-dropping sunsets, charming Little Venice, sandy beaches & more. Mykonos is lively, glamorous, expensive & stunning.
Jump To:
- *Backpacks & Bubbly – Top Pick for Drinks With A View*
- Where to Stay in Mykonos
- Top Things to do in Mykonos
- Best Restaurants in Mykonos
- Best Clubs in Mykonos
- Best Day Trips from Mykonos
- Getting to Mykonos
- Getting Around Mykonos
- Safety for Solo Female Travel in Mykonos
- Mykonos Top Blog Posts
Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!
*Backpacks & Bubbly – Top Pick for Drinks With A View*
Negrita Bar
Located right in Little Venice, Negrita bars patio offers some of the most epic drinks with views in Mykonos. It’s location gives you sunset views, windmill views, and a view of the rest of the Little Venice coastline.
The tables are so close to the water on a windy day the waves may be crashing up onto the patio, so beware, but so worth it!
Runner Up: 180º Sunset Bar
Mykonos has tons of great drinks with views option, so I had to pick at least one runner up. 180º Sunset Bar is a bit of a walk from Little Venice (20 minutes or so) but it offers amazing sunset views and great vibes.
Where to Stay in Mykonos
Mykonos is fairly small, but when planning your trip there are several different areas you may want to consider staying, depending on what you’re looking for!
Little Venice
If you want to be in the heart of Mykonos, I suggest staying in Little Venice. This neighborhood looks like a postcard, and is exactly what you picture when you picture a Greek island with whitewashed houses, winding alleys, colorful flowers and accents.
This area is busy and does get loud as it is where a lot of the lounges/bars on the island are located. If you’re ok with the crowds and some noise, I highly recommend staying at Little Venice Suites.
This charming little hotel is right in the heart of Little Venice and offers views of the iconic windmills and epic Mykonos sunsets. The location could not be more perfect and the rooms were adorable!
Beaches & Beach Clubs
If you’re in Mykonos to spend most of your time at the infamous beach clubs, you might want to consider staying closer to that area of the island. Although, from Little Venice you can easily catch the busses back and forth (and they run late into the night)
There are a bunch of hotel options in the Paradise Beach area (near Paradise Beach Club, Cavo Paradiso and Super Paradise Beach Club) This area of the island is definitely more sparse in terms of restaurants and amenities, but is closer to the beaches and the clubs if that is what you are looking for!
If you’re looking to strictly party in Mykonos and save by choosing a bare-boned accommodation option, you can stay at Paradise Beach Club. For the cheapest option, they have bungalows just steps from the beach that offer beds and shared bathrooms.
For a bit more you can upgrade to their new hotel “New Paradise Resort” this allows you to be close to the parties, but is a bit more of a traditional hotel experience!
Top Things to do in Mykonos
Explore Little Venice
No trip to Mykonos is complete without devoting a few hours to exploring the charming, winding alleyways of Little Venice. The whitewashed houses with blue, pink, teal, red, etc. accents are like something out of a movie.
There are plenty of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants to entertain you. If you’re brave grab a drink at one of the bars right along the water. On a windy day you’ll see the waves crashing up into the front tables, so be careful!
Visit the Windmills at Sunset
Mykonos iconic windmills are a can’t miss place to watch the infamous Mykonos sunset. I cannot explain how beautiful the sunsets were each night I was in Mykonos. The windmills also overlook Little Venice, making them a great place to take pictures at any time of day.
Experience the Infamous Nightlife
Mykonos has become known as the ultimate party destination in the Greek islands. The island is filled with some of the worlds most infamous beach clubs and thousands of partygoers and iconic DJs flock to Mykonos during the summer party season.
This culture has made Mykonos a but more glamorous and expensive than other Greek islands I’ve visited, like Crete or Corfu, so you’ll notice the difference in cost for food, taxis, drinks, etc. and you’ll notice the more upscale vibe compared to the laid back beachy vibe of other places in Greece!
Make the Short Hike between the Best Beaches
Although, Mykonos is known more for its beach clubs than the beaches themselves, Mykonos does have some lovely beaches, located near said beach clubs. There is a short “hiking” trail that connects 5 of Mykonos most popular beaches (in order)
- Psarou Beach
- Platis Gialos Beach
- Agia Anna Beach
- Paraga Beach
- Paradise Beach
I highly recommend spending a day or long afternoon visiting these beaches and stopping for swimming, drinks and food along the way!
Take the Ferry to Delos Archaeological Site
Delos Archaeological site is a 30 minute ferry from Mykonos and makes for a great half day trip if you’re looking to add a little history to your Mykonos trip! The entire island of Delos is an archaeological site, and the island has been uninhabited since the 7th century BC, making the site extremely well preserved.
Delos was a sanctuary dedicated to Apollo & Artemis and was considered the most sacred of all the islands. The island also served as a large commercial port that is well preserved for visitors to explore today.
To visit Delos you’ll want to purchase ferry tickets from the ticket booth. Ferries depart from the Old Harbor (right next to Little Venice) and run several times a day during the high season. It gets super busy, so I recommend buying in advance!
You can purchase your own ferry tickets and then purchase tickets to the archaeological site separately, or you can book a guided tour that includes your return ferry ticket for about $60 (I recommend this option!)
Best Restaurants in Mykonos
Greece has amazing food and Mykonos did not disappoint! As a heads up, restaurants tend to be a bit pricier in Mykonos than some of the less touristy Greek islands!
Katerina’s Restaurant
Katerina’s in Little Venice is a must-try on your trip to Mykonos. This small taverna is right on the water and has a tiny deck outside with a few seats if you can snag one. The view is fantastic!
Also, the food was delicious, try the moussaka!
Niko’s Taverna
Niko’s is a large, classic taverna with a big patio. They offer a large menu of traditional Greek fare. I had a salad and the Pastitsio, both were delicious. And the staff was so friendly!
Kastro’s
A must-try for the views alone! Kastro’s is right on the water with tiny wooden tables in a charming alley leading out to the sea. A great place for a sunset meal!
Kazarma
Located on the Old Harbor in Mykonos town, Kazarma, offers traditional Greek food with views of the Old Harbor.
Casa di Giorgio
If you’re looking for the best Italian food in Mykonos, I highly recommend Casa di Giorgio. They have a large menu of fresh pizzas, pastas, meats and fish and are conveniently located right in Little Venice.
Best Clubs in Mykonos
Mykonos is infamous for its party scene, so unsurprisingly there is no shortage of bars and clubs in Mykonos.
Mykonos Beach Clubs
- Paradise Beach Club
- Cavo Paradiso
- Skandinavian Bar Mykonos
- Jackie O’s Seaside
- Super Paradise Beach Club
Best Bars Mykonos
- Negrita Bar
- 180º Sunset Bar
- Scarpa Bar
- Semeli Bar
Best Day Trips from Mykonos
Mykonos is well situated for day tripping to other islands. All can be reached via ferry. I always use Ferry Hopper to book my trips. They compare timetables and prices from all companies to help you find the best option for you trip!
Paros
Paros is a bit less touristy than popular Mykonos, and Naxos, but is absolutely worth a visit. Rent a car an explore the loop of the island.
The ferry to Paros is about an hour and runs several times a day!
Tinos
A less touristy island known for having some of the best food & wine! You’ll likely want to rent a car to explore the island, as it’s dotted with small, traditional villages.
The ferry from Mykonos is only about 30 minutes and runs several times a day!
Naxos
Popular Naxos is another great day trip from Mykonos. Naxos is a large island that is known for its farms growing olives and citrus fruits. It’s very picturesque (and big) so you’ll definitely want a car for exploring!
Fast ferries from Mykonos reach Naxos in about 40 minutes!
Santorini as a day trip from Mykonos?
Santorini is minimum 2 hours via ferry from Mykonos, I don’t recommend it as a day trip since you’ll spend most of your day on the ferry back and forth. I think it’s better to spend a night or two in each if you only have time for a short trip!
Check out my Santorini travel guide here!
Getting to Mykonos
By Ferry
Ferries from Athens and several other Greek islands run daily to Mykonos. The quickest ferry from Athens takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes. In my experience, ferries always run late, so I’d budget at least 3 hours.
From Mykonos you can also catch ferries to other popular Cyclades island, like, Santorini, Naxos, Paros, Milos & Ios.
The ferry port in Mykonos is located about 3km from Little Venice/Mykonos Town and about 30 minutes from the Paradise beach area of the island.
By Plane
Mykonos has an airport that has daily direct flights from Athens. These flights are super short (like 35 minutes or less)
The airport also has direct flights from many other European cities, like Paris Munich, Rome, etc.
The airport is located about a ten minute drive from Little Venice and about 15 minutes from the Paradise beach area (where most clubs are located)
Getting Around Mykonos
Should I rent a car in Mykonos?
Overall, my recommendation would be to not rent a car in Mykonos, but it will depend slightly on your itinerary, and what you are in Mykonos for.
If you’re in Mykonos to party at the bars in Little Venice and spend days/nights at the infamous beach clubs I highly recommend not renting a car.
- Little Venice is pedestrian only so you’ll need to park your car in a lot outside anyways
- Busses run regularly (and late into the night) from Little Venice to the popular clubs (and are much more convenient and safe than driving) Bus schedules can be found here
- You can also find a taxi vs. driving (although taxis in Mykonos are super expensive!)
If you’re staying in a more remote area of the island and are trying to explore the last visited side of Mykonos it is probably worth renting a car, but overall, I was very glad to not have one during my trip.
Safety for Solo Female Travel in Mykonos
4.5 out of 5
Mykonos was super safe for solo travel. Generally, I’d recommend Greece as one of my top countries for solo female travel. I’ve visited many areas of Greece and never had a problem.
Mykonos is well-known for its party culture, I’d just recommend if you’re traveling solo that you be aware of how much you drink and be cautious of your surroundings, but you should have no issue as long as you’re smart!
